Tynwald Members will be asked to approve a supplementary vote of £20.8m for the Department of Health and Social Care to address additional costs incurred in 2025-26.
The motion will be moved by Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian MHK to cover £19 million in revenue funding and £1.8 million in capital funding, based on the year-end position on 31 March 2026.
The single largest pressure, totalling £12.2 million, was driven by was driven by above planned employee costs and Manx Care’s need to maintain safe staffing levels in emergency care, acute hospital services, mental health and community settings. Vacancies, recruitment difficulties and higher-than-expected patient demand meant that bank, locum and on-call staff were essential to keep services running safely.
Additional contributory factors included: higher than anticipated spending on complex care for patients with serious long-term conditions; increased mental health placements; rising costs for specialist treatment provided by UK providers; medical motorsport provision; and services such as prison healthcare and the air ambulance.
Despite these challenges, Manx Care delivered £9.9 million in efficiency savings during 2025-26, meeting and exceeding its mandated 2% target. Support and corporate teams also generated underspends that helped offset pressures in frontline services.
Looking ahead, the DHSC and Manx Care are working towards placing health and social care finances on a more sustainable footing by introducing a Financial Recovery Programme for 2026-27, alongside strengthened governance, improved forecasting and more effective oversight arrangements.
Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian MHK said:
‘This supplementary vote reflects the very real pressures being experienced across our health and care system, driven by increased demand, workforce challenges and the rising cost of delivering safe, high-quality services. I want to recognise the significant efforts made by Manx Care and the Department to manage these pressures responsibly, including delivering on efficiency targets and improving financial governance and oversight.’
The capital element of the supplementary vote, £1.8 million, will support funds committed to the first phase of the Endoscopy Modernisation Programme at Noble's Hospital. The programme is designed to secure and reinforce on-Island cancer diagnostic and emergency endoscopy services while avoiding higher long-term costs and clinical risk sending patients off-Island.
